SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 22 watch list finalists for the 2014 Nancy Lieberman Award. Named after Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, the award recognizes the top point guard in women's NCAA Division I college basketball. The original watch list of candidates was narrowed down to the below list of 22 by a nationally based committee.

"We are honored to be recognizing these 22 athletes for their strengths, skills and commitment to the game of basketball and are excited to move forward in the selection process," Lieberman said. "All of these young women deserve to be on the list for this well-respected award and deserve recognition for their determination."

Southern Miss' senior point guard Jamierra Faulkner is among the 22 players. Faulkner currently leads the nation in assists while leading her team in scoring and steals. She recently topped the 800-assist mark, becoming the first player at Southern Miss and only the second player in Conference USA history to do so. She also became the all-time leader in steals with 342, breaking a 33-year old record and moved into third all-time in scoring at Southern Miss 1,902 points. Faulkner was named a finalist for the C Spire Gillom Trophy, an award given for the best women's basketball player in the state of Mississippi.

Faulkner has been very instrumental in leading Southern Miss to a 21-5 record overall. The 21 wins for the Lady Eagles are the most since the 2007-08 season. Faulkner is averaging a team-best 17.2 points, 8.4 assists and 3.1 steals per game.

A premier Selection Committee made up of top college basketball personnel including Hall of Famers, media members, head coaches and sports information directors was appointed by the Hall of Fame to review the candidates. The list will be narrowed down to a final five by March and the winner will be announced during Final Four weekend activities.

Odyssey Sims, Baylor University
Jerica Coley, Florida International University
Yashira Delgado, Florida State University
Damika Martinez, Iona College
Ashley Deary, Northwestern University
Tiffany Bias, Oklahoma State University
Fantasia Hilliard, Sacramento State University
Amber Orrange, Stanford University
Natasha Cloud, St. Joseph's University
Joanna Harden, Troy University
Brittany Boyd, University of California, Berkeley
Bria Hartley, University of Connecticut
Moriah Jefferson, University of Connecticut
Samantha Logic, University of Iowa
Valencia McFarland, University of Mississippi
Lindsay Allen, University of Notre Dame
Jamierra Faulkner, University of Southern Mississippi
Heather Butler, University of Tennessee at Martin
Jennifer Newsome, University of Tennessee at Martin
Andola Dortch, University of Toledo
Jennifer Schlott, Utah State University
Dequesha McClanahan, Winthrop University